Free Web NovelChapter 198: Chapter 198: 2 Choices
Sword Bu Gui had been about to return to the Lingjian Sect when he sensed the commotion. Concerned for Lu Sangjiu’s safety, he had come over to take a look.
He never expected that she would have caused such a catastrophe.
Lu Sangjiu looked a little embarrassed. "It was all an accident..." she said sheepishly. "I didn’t mean for any of this to happen."
At a time like this, she didn’t have the nerve to brazenly ask Sword Bu Gui to resolve the situation for her.
After all, this involved a Demon Artifact, and she had also shattered someone else’s Immortal Artifact. Forget Sword Bu Gui; even if her own Sect Leader were here, he probably wouldn’t know how to help her.
But to her surprise, after a moment’s contemplation, Sword Bu Gui took the initiative to speak.
"I will do my best to help you, but with members from all the major sects here today, I can’t guarantee what the final outcome will be."
Lu Sangjiu was surprised, but more than that, she was grateful.
Whether Sword Bu Gui was motivated by the Phoenix Cry Sword’s scabbard or not, his willingness to lend her a hand at a time like this was touching.
’After all... if all he wanted was to know the location of the Phoenix Cry Sword’s scabbard, he could have just hardened his heart and performed a soul search on her before she died. Then he would know everything.’
"Thank you, Senior," she said solemnly. "No matter the outcome, I will remember this kindness."
While the two were speaking, the others gradually fell silent, having fully accepted the reality of the situation.
The Sect Leader of the Gold and Silver Gate chose this moment to speak. "There are still matters to be dealt with today. However, since this concerns several sects, it would be inappropriate for my Gold and Silver Gate to handle it alone."
"You have all arrived at the perfect time. Why don’t we move to the Sect Leader’s Hall and discuss how to proceed together?"
Since a Demon Artifact was involved, everyone was quite cautious. Besides, they had all come under the pretext of offering help; it wouldn’t look right to simply turn and flee now that they understood the situation.
Thus, no one objected. The Gold and Silver Gate’s Sect Leader also tried to placate Bai Heng, "White Sword Venerable, why don’t you calm your anger for now and join us to hear things out?"
Bai Heng shot Lu Sangjiu a cold glare, his eyes looking at her as if she were already dead.
’Killing her would have been somewhat troublesome before, but now that she’s had the misfortune of getting tangled up with a Demon Artifact, there’s much more room to maneuver.’
"Fine. Then I shall go and listen as well."
He managed to keep his composure, knowing that if he wanted to kill her, he had to wait until she became a public enemy.
’At that point, he would simply be ’cleansing the sect’... Even the Sect Leader wouldn’t be able to object.’
Lu Sangjiu, of course, noticed his surging killing intent. But in the current situation, she had no power to refuse and could only follow the group toward the Sect Leader’s Hall.
After everyone was seated, someone asked the Sect Leader of the Gold and Silver Gate why the Demon Artifact, the Domination Map Blade, was in their Sword Tomb.
The Sect Leader of the Gold and Silver Gate briefly recounted the events of several hundred years ago. "We kept this matter from all of you," he explained, "because we feared that if word got out, Demon Cultivators would come seeking the Demon Artifact."
"The Gold and Silver Gate’s combat prowess is not particularly high, and we did not wish to bring disaster upon our sect. I hope you can all understand."
Back when the Female Demon from the Moon Palace stopped using the Domination Map, many of them had speculated and debated, but the Gold and Silver Gate had always remained silent.
Although they had their reasons, they had to provide a clear explanation now to avoid creating friction with the other sects.
Among those present, with the exception of the Ten Thousand Buddha Sect, from which no one had come, the Four Great Sects and the Four Small Sects were all represented.
Although they were all individuals at the Divinity Transformation Elder Level, they could, to some extent, speak for their respective sects.
Upon hearing the Gold and Silver Gate Sect Leader’s explanation, they all expressed their understanding, and no one pursued the matter further.
Soon after, the disciples who had been sent to inspect the Sword Tomb returned and reported their findings to their Sect Leader in front of everyone.
"I led a team to inspect the Sword Tomb and confirmed that there are many signs of a battle. The traces of fighting are particularly numerous and chaotic around the deep pit, and other areas have also sustained some damage."
"Therefore, it’s entirely possible that this was caused accidentally during a duel."
The witnesses had affirmed Lu Sangjiu’s account, and now the physical evidence matched. It was basically confirmed that she had been telling the truth.
The Sect Leader of the Gold and Silver Gate then spoke. "In that case, this matter was indeed an accident."
He looked at Lu Sangjiu. "Therefore, we will not hold you responsible, Lu, for breaking the Demon Artifact’s seal and causing its emergence."
Hearing this, Lu Sangjiu didn’t feel the slightest sense of relief. She knew a "but" was coming.
And sure enough, his tone shifted. "However... there are two other matters for which you must give an account, Lu."
"First is the matter of you shattering the Muxian Sword."
Lu Sangjiu immediately protested, "I was being controlled by the Demon Artifact! You can’t blame me for that!"
The Gold and Silver Gate’s Sect Leader’s expression was placid. "The Muxian Sword rested within the Sword Tomb, to be claimed by one with fate. Had you simply taken the sword and left, that would have been your destiny, and we would have had nothing more to say."
"But in the Spirit Void Realm today, only a handful of Immortal Artifacts remain. You have just destroyed one. It would be unacceptable not to demand an explanation, wouldn’t you agree?"
Lu Sangjiu stressed again, "But I was being controlled by the Domination Map!"
Hearing this, the Sect Leader of the Gold and Silver Gate paused for a moment before giving a soft chuckle. "And that brings us to the other matter."
"Now that you have formed a pact with the Domination Map, it is your blade."
"Whether you acted intentionally or not, your blade broke another’s sword. Can you truly claim no responsibility?"
Lu Sangjiu was speechless.
’He... actually had a point.’
Seeing that she couldn’t offer a rebuttal, the Sect Leader of the Gold and Silver Gate smiled again.
"Of course, asking a little cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Stage like yourself to compensate for an Immortal Artifact would put you under far too much pressure."
"So, I will give you another option... sever your pact with the Domination Map, and leave it behind."
"It will no longer be your blade, so you will naturally no longer need to bear responsibility for the trouble it caused. What do you say?"
Lu Sangjiu froze, finally realizing that the seemingly placid Sect Leader of the Gold and Silver Gate was the true master here.
He didn’t preach to her about grand principles or righteousness; he simply laid a clear-cut trap before her.
Either pay for the Immortal Artifact with Spirit Stones, or leave the Domination Map Blade behind.
If she chose the former, the others present would surely object. The issue would then become a conflict between her and everyone else, while the Gold and Silver Gate could collect the payment and simply watch from the sidelines.
If she chose the latter, the Gold and Silver Gate would resolve the matter without lifting a finger.
Although they wouldn’t receive any compensation, the matter of compensation was subjective to begin with.
After all, the Muxian Sword had been left here by a senior long ago. Strictly speaking, it didn’t actually belong to the Gold and Silver Gate anyway.
Lu Sangjiu fell silent. Looking at the Gold and Silver Gate Sect Leader’s seemingly gentle face, she felt as if she were staring at a cunning old fox...
She remained silent for a long moment, and the others began to grow impatient.
The Divinity Transformation Stage elder from the Beast Taming Sect suddenly snorted. "You still haven’t answered. Are you perhaps reluctant to hand over the Demon Artifact?"
